Shingo Takagi & BXB Hulk vs. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori (Dragon Gate 3/20/08)

I watched these two back to back a few days ago and saw some similarities and differences. Thought I’d blog about it starting with the embarrassing fact that I have trouble telling the difference between Ibushi and Ishimori. Too many wrestlers in the world not on my TV every week. I apologize to the Japanses indy lovers.

I’ll start with the El Dorado match since I watched it first. In many ways the El Dorado and DDT promotions feel like developmental for Dragon Gate to my unfocused eyes. I’m not completely hip to the scene so I often rely on my pal MG to fill in gaps when I have questions or need context. But as that thought goes, I thought this match was high level for an indy and could certainly find a home in the mid to upper card at a now bigger time Dragon Gate show. That’s not to say this was worked as a mid card match, rather I felt that on this night the guys in the match were good enough to be higher on a Dragon Gate card as a comparison.

Ibushi is a lot of fun to watch, but a part of me enjoyed the work of KAGETORA more. One thing I came away with on both sides was that all the men had the athletic ability and training to be complete workers, even if they weren’t persona-wise or body-wise major league. Everyone had solid mat wrestling, good reversals, timing, and understood the buildup of the match. There were times I felt like less could be more, but that’s true of a lot of Japanese wrestling, and it’s a different mindset and taste, so that’s not a fault of the match. The match lost me a few times when they were going through the all out final section of the match, but English commentary or more context could have helped that. It’s a common theme that I tire on bigger moves not paced better, but I’m a hypocrite in that if I had seen this in ROH, having the comforts of context, language, and familiarity, I would have liked this match a lot. I do enjoy the tag formula when it breaks down like this, even if scaling back with rules has become more refreshing to me at this stage in the game.

A higher level version of this match is found in the Shingo Takagi & Hulk BXB vs. KENTA & Taiji Ishimori match up. On this day I enjoyed Ishimori more than Ibushi, though both are great. I liked KENTA is this environment, even if watching his matches begins to kill “shoot kicks” for me the way the Austin Era killed punch/kick brawling for me. The stories seemed more defined in the match for someone who doesn’t follow the promotion. KENTA was being a prick to Shingo, who wanted his hands on this invader. Hulk and Ishimori have a battle of one-upsmanship early. Hulk takes a beating and must get to Shingo for the hot tag to save his team’s chances. Lots of teased moves and counters that pay off later. The match up ends appropriately with KENTA and Shingo, where Shingo shows his fighting spirit to the end. Hulk is much of the same, but KENTA is too much. Of course, KENTA has to expend an awesome amount of energy to finally put Shingo away, and it’s kicks after the G2S that does it. I could argue it should have been the G2S finish, but perhaps the kicks with Shingo defiantly on his knees are more appropriate.

The work in the Dragon Gate match is tight as can be and triple speed, so if you’ve never seen the product, this is one you’d wanna jump all over. It’s a tad more refined with a big show atmosphere, while the El Dorado match is about developing talent.

The first stop on my look at any possible Match of the Year Candidates (MOTYC from here on out).This match didn’t get huge buzz, but for almost the first two months of the year this was considered a pace setter. Besides, anything over 3 ½ stars or considered Very Good by most is worth seeing, after all.

This match is done at the ol’ bowling alley, North Star Lanes. KENTA has his young protégé in Ishimori, who he works well with, and KENTA’s most famous partner is across the ring, Marufuji. Marufuji is packing the even greener by experience Aoki, who hasn’t even had his 10 match trial series yet. Thing is, Aoki is a scary good talent, and Ishimori is a hell of a spot performer; Though there’s more to him as well.
Marufuji and KENTA start out doing there fast and furious “I know you. No, I know you” counter move stuff. Always awesome no matter how much I’ve seen it already. They won’t end up being the story though. Marufuji finishes with the advantage and they each tag in their junior members.

Ishimori has some great acrobatic head scissors and fake out moves. He frustrates Aoki, who is really technically solid, and KENTA comes in for the stiff stuff. Aoki sells a lot these days, as the old All Japan/NOAH system brings up it’s top young boys in this way.

Nevermind. They duck out of that without much heat. Odd, since KENTA looked to beat his ass and just let him tag out. Then Marufuji takes control of KENTA.

Aoki can’t keep the advantage, and he starts to sell again. KENTA and Aoki have some nice stiff forearm exchanges, but mostly KENTA just stiffs the crap out of him. Good tags in and out from KENTA/Ishimori. They don’t work on any one thing, just beat the crap out of Aoki.

Great hope spots from Aoki and being cut off. Marufuji has a subtle talent as the partner in the corner waiting for the hot tag. Not in getting the crowd going, but in being concerned and trying for the tag. Sadly, Ishimori isn’t as urgent once tagged in.

Everyone in this match throws a beautiful dropkick. Aoki comes back and makes the tag to no reaction or drama, and Marufuji runs wild. His dragon screw leg whip and the majority of his offense is amazing too. Having seen him live several times in ROH I’ve have to say Marufuji is extremely undervalued.

Okay, no selling has finally gotten to me. He super kick is a transitional move used often in these matches, and Ishimori shrugs off big stiff moves to little effect. It’s a desensitization I’m very opposed to. Big moves need consequences, and only some NOAH matches have those consequences.

By the way, Ishimori hit a hurrancanrana that has to be seen it was so beautiful. Moments like that make me worry less about these matches as it was a great nearfall. KENTA once tagged in is so motivated he fills several quotas for fiery babyfaces.

Marufuji takes all the escalating KENTA offense, shakes out of the Go To Sleep, and hits a Sliced Bread # 2 for a nearfall. We’re into the all out nearfall big finish.

This one is a lot slower moving. So is the crowd heat. Aoki has a great double overhead suplex move that reminds me of Eddie’s 3 Amigos the way he floats over.

Everyone gets to hit some moves and/or submission attempts, but Aoki’s reversals for pins were my favorite. I really enjoy this kid’s work. KENTA finally gets him with the GTS in a very good match.
Not MOTY quality, but a very good fifteen minutes or so. I’d say 3 ½ stars and 7/10.